Phenom 16U Lays a Foundation for the Future
The North Dakota 16U squad was a top five team in the PHD area this year and one of three teams from North Dakota ranked in our top five. Coach Mark Wiest led the group who was one of three…
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Continue ReadingThe North Dakota 16U squad was a top five team in the PHD area this year and one of three teams from North Dakota ranked in our top five. Coach Mark Wiest led the group who was one of three North Dakota teams in the PHD area top five.
“The North Phenom 16 finished the summer 20-16, said Coach Wiest who is also the athletic director at Mandan High School. “I was happy to see the team make improvements throughout the summer, and on both ends of the floor.
“It took time for the kids to learn how to play together and trust each other. I thought we played our best basketball of the season at Ames, Iowa and Milwaukee. We finished with a second place finish in Ames and played some talented teams in Milwaukee and finished 2-2.”
The biggest theme this summer and is that kids love playing AAU basketball not just because of the competition, the chance to improve as basketball players, and because of the travel, but also because it brings together kids that love the game from other places. A way for kids to be with others that love the game.
At any high school in North Dakota there are only going to be so many kids with near year round dedication and love for the game of basketball so that is why a team like this is special.
“I was excited to see how the kids also grew off the floor together,” Coach Wiest. “Since we have kids from different parts of North Dakota, many of them don’t have the opportunity to get to know each other until the season begins.
“By the mid-point of the season they really were beginning to develop positive relationships and enjoying hanging out with each other and pulling for each other. Obviously this translated to more success on the court as well as they were playing hard for each other and supporting each other.”
The Phenom have a bunch of players with a lot potential from various parts of the state. Coach Wiest saw improvement in all of his guys.
“I thought throughout the season that we had so many kids step up and have successful tournaments,” said the Coach. “I thought all the kids were very important to our success as they each brought something unique to the floor.
“I could see my entire team having an opportunity to be recruited to play college basketball at some level. We had size with Trae Steckler, Will Brown and Josh Kihle along with two kids that worked hard in Tate Doppler and Bartholemew Ogbu.
“I was also very impressed with our perimeter players which included Cole Gendrau, Trey Wiest, Chandler Albertson, Garrett Bickett and John Nordberg. It was definitely a group effort all summer.”
This group of players represents the future of North Dakota Phenom along with Jordan Polynice and when you look at the size, versatility, and production out of that group there is big potential there for a nice 2017 season.
“Going forward I see a lot of promise with this group. It will be interesting to see how each of these kids play for their High School teams and what type of players they evolve into for next summer.”
PHD is eager to find out as the players on the Phenom seem to have an exciting future.